Highlights
- PlayStation could be developing a new emulator for PS2 games, bolstering their game preservation and backwards compatibility efforts.
- The current options for accessing PS2 and PS1 games on PS4 and PS5 are limited, and a new emulator could enhance the value of the PS Plus subscription program.
- This rumor aligns with Sony's strategy to compete with Game Pass and improve PS Plus, which is facing criticism due to a price increase and a more restricted game collection.
The PlayStation rumor mill is churning once again, this time centering on a potential new PlayStation 2 emulator for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The arrival of a new PS2 emulator would support Sony's game preservation and backwards compatibility initiatives, which are currently primarily upheld by games available through PlayStation Plus.
Over the course of the PS4 and PS5 console generations, Sony has drawn a bit of criticism for its handling of backwards compatibility. Compared to the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation hasn't offered the same breadth or accessibility when it comes to playing classic games--a significant departure from the PS3 and PS2, which were fully backwards compatible with all PS1 games. What the PS4 did introduce was PS Now, which would go on to be rebranded as PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium. These services allow PlayStation owners to stream or download a selection of classic titles from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP generations, but the selection is somewhat limited.
Although there are plenty of new PlayStation games on the horizon, the platform could be increasing its support for classic titles, according to YouTuber Mystic. In a recent video on the state of Sony's classic games catalog, Mystic touched on some of the issues surrounding the current options available for accessing PS2 and PS1 games on PS4 and PS5, stating that he had it on "good authority" that Sony is developing a new emulator for PS2 games, with the goal of enhancing the value of the PS Plus subscription program.
While this is only a rumor, it is relatively credible. Mystic has been a reliable source of PlayStation-related information in the past, and his confidence on this matter lends credence to the idea. This rumor also tracks with Sony's current strategy. PS Plus will soon be getting a price increase, and the central focus of the service is to compete with Game Pass, a cheaper and more expansive subscription model. The upcoming price increase, combined with a more pared-down collection of games and no day-one access for exclusives, doesn't exactly paint PS Plus in a positive light, so a better, bigger emulator for classic games could be just what the service needs.
Xbox comparisons aside, better access to classic PS2 games on modern consoles can only be a good thing. The PS2's sprawling library is teeming with smash-hit games that countless gamers would be happy to have access to. If this rumor turns out to be true, it could expand the PS Plus library even further, or just grant PlayStation owners a better option for experiencing PS2 titles.
Source: PlayStation Lifestyle
